Episode 43: “New Soil, New Roots” - Part One (featuring Brian Fisher)
Telling stories of turning transition into transformation. There is Life After Ministry.
What happens when ministry ends?
What do you do when the life you built for the kingdom - your identity, your mission, your livelihood - gets ripped away without explanation?
For Brian Fisher, founder of a thriving pro-life nonprofit that saved over 18,000 lives, the answer wasn’t immediate. In 2020, he and his wife were forced out of the ministry they built. Their possessions came home in cardboard boxes, and their community turned silent.
In this raw and honest episode, Brian reflects on the crushing loneliness and profound disorientation that followed. But this isn’t just his story- it’s the story of countless ministry leaders who face the same unspoken challenges.
Together, we explore what happens on “Day One” after hitting rock bottom and begin to uncover the tools for navigating the inward journey, the wall, and the deep transformation that only comes through suffering.
Key Points
From Success to Loss: Brian recounts building a nonprofit that combined technology and Christ-centered care to save lives, only to lose everything suddenly in 2020.
The Loneliness of Ministry Transition: When a leader is removed, awkward silences and a lack of support can amplify the grief, leaving them isolated.
Facing Day Zero: After a ministry ends, many leaders feel lost and abandoned, wondering, “What now?”
Understanding The Wall: The wall—a stage of profound disorientation—is where God invites us to sit in the pain and uncover deep truths about ourselves and Him.
The Need for Witness: In seasons of suffering, what we often need most isn’t advice or solutions but someone to simply sit with us in the mess.
Pull Quotes
"The hardest part wasn’t being fired. It was the deafening silence of people who used to stand with us."
"The wall isn’t just a season—it’s an invitation to let God redefine what ‘good’ looks like."
"We need people who will sit with us, not try to fix us, when life falls apart."
"The church must get better at stages four, five, and six of discipleship—where transformation really happens."
Chapter Markers
0:00 – 3:09: Introduction: Meeting Brian Fisher
3:10 – 6:20: The Rise of a Pro-Life Nonprofit
6:21 – 9:08: The Loss: Forced Out Without Explanation
9:09 – 11:36: Navigating Day Zero: Loneliness and Isolation
11:37 – 15:12: The Journey Inward: Facing The Wall
15:13 – 17:12: The Role of Witness: How Others Can Help
17:13 – 21:27: Wrestling with God: Letting Go of Success
21:28 – 25:15: The Wall as a Gift: Redefining God’s Goodness
Want to Go Deeper?
Brian Fisher’s story offers a blueprint for those navigating seasons of loss and disorientation. Learn more about how to embrace the inward journey and build communities for true spiritual growth.
Website: SoilandRoots.org
Podcast: Soil and Roots (Available on all platforms)
Substack: Search Soil and Roots for thought-provoking articles
This is part one of Brian’s conversation. Don’t miss the next episode, where we dive deeper into his work with Soil and Roots and how he’s helping others grow spiritually after ministry transitions.
Find resources. Find hope.
This is a sanctuary for those who've experienced a transition out of church or nonprofit Christian leadership roles. Our mission is to provide a platform for sharing, learning, and growing through each other's experiences.
A place for elders needing answers.
Welcome to the Elder Hub, a platform designed to uplift, empower, and unite elders across Christian denominations. This group serves as support and guidance for those entrusted with the weighty responsibility of making critical decisions within churches and nonprofit ministries.
